Sign



T. CRICK SIGN Filed May 15, 1933 Jan. 23, 1934;

INVENTQR 5' C (k ATToNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1934 STATES aras Independence Stove and Furnace Company,

Independence, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 15, 1933. Serial No. 671,071

15 Claims.

My invention relates to signs and more particularly to those of that character designating the names of streets, public places and the like, and has for its principal object to provide a substantially indestructible sign that is not subject to the wear and corrosive action of the elements.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide an extremely rigid bracket construction which is adaptable for mounting on posts, corners of buildings and other supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign which is activated by stray rays of light from street lamps, vehicle traffic lights or the headlights of the vehicles.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sign constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the sign shown in unassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the sign, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken at right angles to the section in Fig. 3.

Referring more in detailto the drawing:

1 and 2 designate sign members signifying the names of intersecting streets and which are mounted on a suitable support 3 by a bracket arm 30 generally designated 4.

Each sign member includes a hollow body preferably formed of a sheet of flat metal bent about its center to provide a rounded upper top edge 5 and spaced parallel depending sides 6 and 7 having their lower edges clipped on slightly upwardly inclined angles 8 and 9 to improve the appearance thereof. The ends of the sides 6 and 7 are curved inwardly toward each other and welded to form downward continuations l0 and 11 of the rounded top 5.- The sides, top and ends thus form an enclosed downwardly opening pocket 12 for housing sections of a supporting bracket, hereinafter described.

The sign members just described are preferably covered with porcelain and the street indicia 13 may also be formed thereon by use of a different colored porcelain than the background, or the letters may be cut into the sides thereof in the form of open stencils. By thus covering, the sign members they are entirely free from effects of the elements and the porcelain retains its natural coloring so that the sign will last indefinitely.

When the-letters are stenciled out of the metal as shown, I provide colored panels 14 which are superimposed over the stencil lettering on the inner face of the sides 6 and 7 to close the openings 15 formed by the letters. The panels 14 are preferably formed of light refracting material so that the letters are activated by stray light rays to render the sign visible after darkness. The panels may be secured within the sign members by suitable clips or other fastening devices 16, as shown.

In order to support the sign members in cross relation andone above the other in the proper position to designate the respective streets, I pro.-

vide upper and lower bracket sections 17 and 18, V

shank portion 25 terminating in a T-shaped head i 26 having a rounded upper edge 27 conforming to the'rounded edge 5 of the lower sign member. The width of the shank is such that it snugly engages the sides of the sign member to stiifen and retain them in true parallel relation with each other. However, in order to accommodate the panels 14,-the sides of the shank are cut away for a portion of their length, as at 28 and 29. The lower bracket section also includes an upper rectangular extension 30 located above the head 26 and which extends through a rectangular opening 31 in the lower. sign member, as shown in Fig. 2,- to support the upper bracket section 17. The sides .of the extension are also cut away or recessed asat 32 and 32' to accommodate the panels of the upper sign members, as shown in Fig. 4:.

Cooperating with the head 26 on the lower bracket section is a clamping plate 33 having a concaved seat 34 for engaging the curved top 5 of the lower sign member and formed on the top of the plate is a flat boss 35 to seat the upper bracket section when ,it is sleeved over the extension 30, the plate having a rectangular-shaped opening 36 extending through the boss to accommodate the extension. 7

"The upper bracket section includes spaced shank portions 37 and 38 arranged to engage opposite side faces of the extension so to prevent rotational movement of the upper sign member relatively to the lower sign member. The spaced shank portions 37 and 38 terminate in a T-shaped head member 39 having a rounded upper edge 40 conforming to the rounded interior of the upper sign member. The upper sign member also carries a clamp plate 41 having a concave seat 42 similar to the clamping plate 33, and which is provided with an upstanding boss 43 having a through opening 44 therein.

In order to secure the parts of the sign together I provide a draw bolt 45 which extends through the opening 44 in the clamping plate 41, aligning openings 46 and 47 in the upper sign member and the upper bracket section and into a threaded socket 48 in the top end of the extension 30 of the lower bracket section.

To prevent cracking of the porcelain by pressure of the clamping action of the clamp plates 33 and 41 relatively to the T-shaped heads 27 and 39, I prefer to insert between these members and the sign members strips of flexible gasket material 49, 50 and 51, 52 respectively, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 1

In assembling the sign, the upper bracket section is inserted in position in the upper sign member with the head 39 thereof seating'against the gasket strip 51 and the strip engaging the inner surface of the curved top 5. The clamp plate 41 is secured by a screw 53 extended through openings 54 and 55 in the plate and sign respectivelyand into a threaded socket 56 in the head.

The lower sign is then sleeved over the extension on the lower bracket section 18 with the gasket strips 49 and 50 located as in the upper sign member and the clamp plate 33 secured by a similar screw 5'7.

It is thus apparent that the upper and lower bracket sections become fixed parts of their respective sign members to prevent their displacement while the sign members are being assembled relatively to each other.

After the sign members have been assembled on their respective bracket sections, the upper member is sleeved over the extension 30 in such a manner that the signs are in right angular relation to each other, as shown in Fig. l. The draw bolt 45 is then applied to draw the parts together and complete the assembly;

The sign thus described may be mounted on a post formed of pipe or in a pipe nipple 58 of the L-shaped bracket arm i. In either case the cylindrical base portion 19 of the lower bracket section is mounted in the open end of the pipe and is centered therein'by the lugs 20 and 21. After the signs have been adjusted to align with the respective streets, an Allen setscrew59 is threaded into an opening 60 therein to engage the bracket section in the recess 22 to prevent rotation within the bracket.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an extremely rigid sign structure because the T-shaped heads form braces to support the face ends of the sign members and that the rectangular cross section of the extension 30 positively keys the sign members against movement relatively to each other. i

This mounting of the upper sign member is also important as it permits its assembly in the plane of the lower sign member for shipping purposes simply by removing the draw bolt and withdrawing the upper sign member from the extension 30 after which it is reassembled with both sign members in the same relative plane.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sign of the character described including a hollow sign member, a bracket member, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member, a clamping plate engaging the sign member, and a draw bolt extending through the clamping plate and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member to the bracket member.

2. A sign of the character described including a hollow sign member, a braket member, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member, a clamping plate engaging the sign member, and means securing the clamping plate and engaging the bracket member to clamp the sign member therebetween.

3. A sign of the character described including a hollow sign member, a bracket member having a T-shaped head, means for securing the bracket member Within the sign member so that said head engages and braces the sign member, a clamping plate engaging the sign member and cooperating with said head to engage the sign member therebetween, and a draw bolt extending through the clamping plate and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member.

4. A sign of the character described including a hollow porcelain sign member, a bracket mem ber, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member, a clamping member engaging the sign member, gasket strips inserted between the sign member and the bracket and clamping members to protect the porcelain of the sign member, and means extending through the clamping member and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member to the bracket member.

5. A sign of the character described including a hollow porcelain sign member, a bracket member, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member, a clamping member engaging the sign member, a gasket strip inserted between the sign member and the clamping member to protect the porcelain of the sign member, and means extending through the clamping member and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member to the bracket member.

6. A sign of the character described including a hollow porcelain sign member, a bracket,member having a T-shaped head, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member so that the T-shaped head braces the sign member, a clamping member cooperating with said head to clamp the sign member therebetween, gasket strips inserted between the sign and clamping members to protect the porcelain of the sign member, and means extending through the clamping member and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member to the bracket member.

7. A sign of the character described including upper and lower sign members, a bracket section mounted within the lower sign member, an extensionon the bracket section, a bracket section mounted in the upper sign member and engaging the extension on the lower bracket section, and means for securing the upper bracket section to the lower bracket section including means'for clamping said sign members to said bracket sections.

8. A sign of the character describedincluding a lower bracket section having a T-shaped head and an extension projecting from the head, a hollow sign member mounted on the head, an upper bracket section sleeved over the extension and having a T-shaped head, and a second sign member fixed to the head of the upper bracket section.

9. A sign of the character described including upper and lower bracket sections having T-shaped heads located in angular relation to each other, hollow sign members mounted on said heads, and means for clamping the sign members to the heads including means for securing the bracket sections together.

10. A sign of the character described including a lower bracket section having a rectangular extension, a hollow sign member sleeved over the extension and supported by the bracket section, a clamping plate sleeved over the extension and engaging the sign member, an upper bracket section sleeved over the extension and engaging the clamping plate, a second sign member mounted on the upper bracket section, a clamping plate engaging the second sign member, and means for securing the clamping plates to the bracket sections to clampingly retain the sign members.

11. A sign of the character described including a lower bracket section having a T-shaped head and a rectangular extension projecting from the head, a hollow sign member sleeved over the extension and supported by the head, a clamping plate sleeved over the extension and engaging the sign member, an upper section having spaced shanks engaging opposite sides of the extension and bearing on the clamping plate, a second sign member mounted on the upper bracket section, a clamping plate engaging the second sign member, and a draw bolt extending through said last named clamping plate and anchored to the extension for clamping the sign members to the bracket sections.

12. A sign of the character described in combination with a pipe support including a bracket provided with a T-shaped head and having a base portion engaging in the pipe support, a hollow sign member mounted on the head, a clamping plate engaging the sign, means extending through the clamping plate and into the head for securing the sign member to the head, and

means securing the base portion of the bracket within said pipe support.

13. A sign including a strip of metal bent upon itself to provide spaced side portions arranged to carry a sign indicia and having end extensions on the side portions to close the ends thereof and to form a rectangular pocket, and a bracket member mounted in said pocket between said side portions, means clamping the sign to said bracket member for supporting said sign, and ,a cushioning material between the clamping means and the sign.

14. A sign including a sign member having spaced side portions connected at the top and ends by rounded portions to form a pocket therebetween, a porcelain covering for the sign' including porcelain indicia formed on said side portions, a bracket member housed within said pocket, and means securing the bracket member within the pocket for supporting the sign member.

15. A sign of the character described including a hollow sign member having open stencil indicia thereon, light reflecting plates mounted within the sign member and covering the stencil openings, a bracket member, means for securing the bracket member within the sign member, a clamping plate engaging the sign member, and a draw bolt extending through the clamping plate and engaging the bracket member to secure the sign member to the bracket member.

THOMAS CRICK. 

